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John P. Sullivan (1) Joe Cutler (1) Tom Vigliotta (3)

Description: Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8; Vertebrae: 35. Diagnosis: Synodontis acanthoperca is a relatively small species, with a maximum standard length below 50 mm. It is distinguished from all congeners by a distinctive pattern that includes a pair of dark patches on the caudal fin; one patch is present in the middle of each lobe of the caudal fin. Further distinguished by the presence of a well-developed opercular spine in sexually mature males. Habitat: This species is known from two sites within the Ogôoué River basin of Gabon. The type locality is the Rapids of Massoukou (Masuku) on the Ogôoué River near Franceville and a second population has been collected in rapids on the Louétsi River near Bongolo. Given the significant river distance between these sites (> 500 km), we speculate that S. acanthoperca is widely distributed in the upper Ogôoué basin wherever similar rapid habitats exist (Friel & Vigliotta, 2006). Etymology: The specific name of acanthoperca - Latinized combination of the Greek 'acantha', meaning a thorn, and the Latin 'opercul', meaning a cover or lid, alluding to the distinctive opercular spines developed by mature males in this species.

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Mochokidae

Africa: Ogowe River in Gabon.

5.0cm. (2ins)

23-26°C (73-79°F)

6.5-7.0.

Friel, J.P. and T.R. Vigliotta, 2006. Synodontis acanthoperca, a new species from the Ogôoué River system, Gabon with comments on spiny ornamentation and sexual dimorphism in mochokid catfishes (Siluriformes: Mochokidae). Zootaxa 1125:45-56.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2011. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version.